Multipatch antenna with ease of manufacture and large bandwidth

Abstract

A multipatch antenna including radiating patches (2) positioned on a dielectric sheet (1). The patches (2) are capacitively fed by probes (7) ending in the dielectric sheet (1) near the patches (2). By positioning the probes (7) near selected edges of the radiating patches (2), a selected polarization direction of the radiation field can be realized. By positioning several probes (7) near a radiating patch (2), a radiation field with an adjustable polarization direction or a radiation field with an extremely low cross-polarization can be obtained.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A multipatch antenna comprising: an array of at least substantially equal radiators, positioned on one side of a dielectric sheet;   a conductive ground plane positioned on the other side of the dielectric sheet;   feeding means positioned near the ground plane on a side facing away from the dielectric sheet; and   capacitive coupling means incorporated between the feeding means and the radiators for energizing the radiators;   wherein the radiators each consist of one single radiating patch, positioned on an outer surface of the dielectric sheet and the capacitive coupling means comprise constant diameter conducting probes, on one side connected to the feeding means and on the other side ending in the dielectric sheet near the radiating patch, such that the ends of the conducting probes are completely embedded in the dielectric sheet.   
     
     
       2. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground plane is provided with apertures at the location of the radiating patches to allow the passage of the probes. 
     
     
       3. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 2, wherein the probes end near selected edges of the radiating patches for generating a radiation pattern with a selected polarization direction. 
     
     
       4. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein for each radiating patch, two probes are provided, both ending near opposite edges of the radiating patch. 
     
     
       5. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 4, wherein the feeding means are arranged for feeding the two probes in opposite phases. 
     
     
       6. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 5, wherein the antenna comprises a conformal array on a curved ground plane. 
     
     
       7. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 4, wherein the antenna comprises a conformal array on a curved ground plane. 
     
     
       8. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein the antenna comprises a conformal array on a curved ground plane. 
     
     
       9. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein for each radiating patch, a first probe is provided for generating a radiation pattern with a first polarization direction and a second probe is provided for generating a second polarization direction which is at least substantially perpendicular to the first polarization direction. 
     
     
       10. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein for each radiating patch, a first pair of probes is provided for generating a radiation pattern with a first polarization direction and a second pair of probes is provided for generating a radiation pattern with a second polarization direction, the second polarization direction being at least substantially perpendicular to the first polarization direction. 
     
     
       11. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 2, wherein the antenna comprises a conformal array on a curved ground plane. 
     
     
       12. The multipatch antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a conformal array on a curved ground plane.